Response to Covid-19 (Coronavirus)
Update to Home Status Regarding Visits
Last Update: 20th December 2021
Lateral Flow Testing and Visiting Update
Dear families and friends of our Residents,
As you are likely to be aware, the UK is currently experiencing a rapid increase in cases of COVID19 because of the Omicron variant. As your loved ones’ care home provider, we are becoming increasingly concerned about the different characteristics presented by this variant; it’s amplified transmission ability and its capacity to infect fully vaccinated individuals. The Residents who we care for are still amongst the most vulnerable in society, and although the majority have had three vaccine doses there is still an ongoing risk that they could become infected. There is currently not enough evidence to know whether the illness that follows will be as severe as it was at the beginning of the pandemic. We hope that this will not be the case, but in the meantime, we will continue to do all we can to protect your loved ones who are in our care.
Whilst we are maintaining the visiting arrangements made for this Christmas, we will be changing our guidance around testing. Through our experience, we have seen that Lateral Flow Tests being taken within 2-3 hours of each other are giving different results (for example, an individual tested at 8am has a negative result, at 11am the same individual tested again is positive); this is how rapidly one can turn from non-infectious to infectious. Therefore, if you are a visitor who drives, we urge you to arrive 20 minutes before your visiting slot and take your Lateral Flow Test inside your vehicle. If you are a visitor who takes public transport or walks, please ensure that you take this test just before leaving your home. Please take your test as close as possible to entering the home and visiting your loved one.
Furthermore, as has been the case in the past those who have recently visited crowded public places (i.e. shopping malls, Christmas markets, clubs and restaurants) are more likely to test positive in the coming days. We would ask that you carefully consider where you have been in the days leading up to your visit and decide for yourselves if the risk to your loved ones outweighs their need for a face-to-face visit. We still have access to our visiting pods and can arrange video calls if you choose to err on the side of caution.
Government guidelines on visiting were updated last week on 15/12/2021. Each resident can nominate up to 3 visitors as well as 1 essential care giver. All visits must be booked in advance. Please see the below guidance for further information.
We hope that you manage to stay safe over the festive period. We thank you for your continued trust in us to care for and protect your loved ones. We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Update: 29th of July 2021
Following the government announcement this Monday and the general easing of restrictions nationwide we are delighted to inform you of the new changes to our visiting policy. We are relieved to finally be able to facilitate visiting in a more ‘normal’ fashion; the rule of only two ‘constant visitors’ has been lifted. This means that more individuals will be allowed into the home for visiting. That being said, there are still some rules that we will need to follow in order to ensure that our Residents remain protected during the rise in cases of the more virulent strain.
New visiting guidelines
- All visitors must take an LFT/Rapid flow test prior to entering the building.
- Therefore, as previously arranged, visitors must arrive at the home 20 minutes prior to their visit in order to undertake the Rapid flow test and receive their result
- All visits must be booked via the home admin and in advance.
- Nurses and care staff are unable to book visits, so please be sure to call during office hours (Mon-Fri, 9 am-5 pm).
- Visits are booked on a first-come-first-served basis.
- All visitors (except pod-visitors) must wear full PPE at all times during their visit (a surgical face mask, an apron, and gloves) at all times during their visit. Visitors should also ensure that they sanitise their shoes and hands before entering the building.
- As visitors are still not permitted in in-door public areas, we are keeping the maximum amount of visitors at any given time to 2 per Resident. This will help us to prevent overcrowding in our Residents’ rooms and minimise the potential spread of the virus.
- We can make exceptions to this rule on special occasions; please speak to the home manager if you would like to arrange this.
- You must not visit the home if you are feeling unwell or presenting any symptoms of COVID19, even if you have received a negative LFT/rapid test result.
We hope that the new guidelines set out above will help to make your visits more enjoyable and meaningful. We have based our guidelines on recent government guidance which you can find here;
Update: 14th May 2021
In line with the governments’ announcement, we are pleased to confirm an addition of 3 constant visitors (total of 5) for each of our Residents, starting from Monday 17th May 2021. Should you have identified the further 3 visitors, please could they complete the constant visitors form; online on our website (top right corner – ‘LFT Visits’) or by calling the home during office hours and giving their details over the phone to the homes’ administration team.
We can confirm that we are still maintaining the fixed schedules we have in place to ensure reduced traffic flow within our homes and the potential spread of the virus. If you were previously assigned 1 permanent visiting slot, this will now be increased to 2. However, we will only allow 2 visitors per visiting slot. The home will inform you of any changes to your permanent visiting slots so that we are able to facilitate the increased amount of visits.
We thank you in advance for your continued patience and support.
Update: 4th May 2021
Visits out of Care Homes
Following the government’s announcement over the bank holiday weekend, we are pleased to confirm that our Residents are now able to leave their home and visit the wider community. This means that Residents’ are able to make day trips to their loved ones’ homes, or to a venue. If you would like to arrange such a visit for your loved one, please contact their home and ask for our policy on these types of outings. Due to your loved one sharing accommodation with other vulnerable adults, please note that there are very strict rules that need to be considered when arranging this type of outing. These rules do differ based on whether the outing will require our Resident to be indoors or outdoors. Further to this, each arrangement would have to be carefully considered and a risk assessment completed to determine whether or not your loved one would be able to access the community safely at this time.
Update: 7th April 2021
2nd Constant Visitor
As you may be aware, this Monday the government announced that it plans to go ahead with allowing a 2nd nominated constant visitor to visit inside of the home, following a negative Lateral Flow Test result. We are extremely delighted that there has been no interference with this plan, and our homes are busy preparing for the 12th April where this scheme will commence. Should you have already nominated the 2nd constant visitor for your loved one, please could you ensure that they complete and submit the online form on our website (top right hand corner under ‘LFT Visits’), ideally by the 12th April. If they have any issues with submitting the form, then they are able to call the homes’ administrator during office hours to give the details over the phone.
Please note that your current permanent visiting slot will remain the same, should you require an additional slot for a separate visit, please inform the home at your earliest opportunity. Unfortunately, due to staffing constraints we will only be able to offer these slots on a ‘first come first served’ basis, and we do have a fixed number of slots based on our schedule. Whilst we aim to uphold the government guidance, please note that where possible, it would help us to have the two constant visitors visiting together on the same slot each week, however, we will endeavour to fulfil any requests where possible.
Update: 24th of February 2021
Lateral Flow Visit Update
Following the government announcement over the weekend, we are both relieved and excited to finally begin the Lateral Flow Visits. As you may recall, we had already started making arrangements to facilitate such visits; training on lateral flow testing, creation of permanent schedules, and receiving details of the ‘constant visitors’ permitted to undertake this type of visiting. We are therefore in a good position to commence Lateral Flow Visits.
Some of you have already provided us with the details we require for the ‘constant visitors’. However, due to a change in guidance from the government, we are now only permitted to have one ‘constant visitor’ per Resident as opposed to two. Unfortunately, this means that a decision needs to be made by each family around who they will nominate to be the ‘constant visitor’. Pod visits will of course continue as usual for those family members and friends who are not nominated. You may also recall that we had informed you that there will be a permanent schedule in place for this type of visiting, this will help us to organise the visits and dedicate particular days to Wings / Units to help us to staff effectively, as well as ensuring that there is enough space to safely socially distance and limit footfall through the home all at once.
The constant visitor will receive a letter stating their permanent visiting day and time. If you are yet to nominate a family member or friend for your loved one, please do so as soon as possible; the constant visitor will need to complete our online form (on our website, in the top right corner under LFT Visits) in order to receive the official letter.
For further information and government guidance on this type of visiting, please click here.
As we are currently waiting for the Lateral Flow Test Kits for visitors to arrive, we are adopting the government guidance for the start dates for this type of visit; we will begin to welcome visitors from the 8th of March.
We are extremely eager to start this and are looking forward to welcoming you back into our homes and reuniting you with your loved ones.
Update: 27th of January 2021
Visiting our homes
On the 15th of January 2021 we had taken the decision to instigate a two week ‘circuit break’ whereby we placed a pause on pod visits and commenced barrier nursing, where possible, for all of our Residents. Our reasoning for this was to relieve staff of the added workload that pod visits bring, in order for them to have more time to concentrate on room-to-room infection prevention control measures and increase the frequency of one-to-one individual activities. Further to this, we believed that by barrier nursing our Residents, we would be able to limit the amount of movement within public areas of the home and therefore limit the potential spread of the virus.
We are glad to announce that we feel that the ‘circuit break’ has proven to be beneficial for us in our position to protect our Residents against COVID19. In some of our homes which have had outbreaks, we feel that the increased prevention measures have helped us in containing the spread of the virus. On the other hand, it has become incredibly apparent to us just how transmissible the new strain of COVID19 really is. Being 70% more transmissible than the last strain, and despite our increased efforts to keep the virus from spreading, we have had a few cases where we have been unsuccessful in its containment.
As promised, we have now reviewed our decision to pause pod visits in the homes. Whilst we would prefer to keep all of the prevention measures we currently have in place, we do understand the urgent need to reunite our Residents with their loved ones. Therefore, we are lifting the pause on pod visits from the 1st February 2021. Despite the difficulties we are facing in containing outbreaks, we are somewhat reassured that a majority of our Residents should remain well, as all of our Residents (who had consented) have now had their first dose of the COVID19 vaccine. We will however, maintain some of our prevention measures as outlined below.
In line with our current prevention measures, we will continue to barrier nurse all of our Residents were possible. This means that your loved one will be asked to remain in their bedroom, unless they have a pod visit booked, or they tend to walk with purpose. Further to this, we will implement a different type of booking system to ensure that wings and units within the home are not mixing during pod visits to enable us to contain the spread of the virus, should it enter the home. In order to this, the home will allocate visiting days for each wing or floor in the home. This does mean that you may not be offered a visiting slot on the day that you request. We do hope that you understand our need to take these measures, and support us in doing so. It is also important to note that if your loved ones’ home currently has an outbreak, the pod visits will not resume until the home is COVID19-free.
As always, we thank you for your continued patience, support and understanding.
Update: 15th of January 2021
Due to the easing of restrictions over the Christmas period and the new highly transmissible strain of Covid19, cases are rising rapidly. We, along with many other care providers nationally, have experienced recent outbreaks in some of our homes. Consequently, we are increasingly fearful for the safety of our residents and so, we have taken the difficult decision to take further protective measures within our homes.
Increased testing of our staff has been beneficial in identifying asymptomatic cases, however, we have also found our workforce to be depleted due to self-isolation. We are therefore restructuring our daily activities to ensure that our staff still have time to maintain a high standard of care for our residents, whilst also being able to comply with the robust infection control measures in place. Therefore, we have taken the decision to temporarily suspend pod visits for a two-week period. In turn this will also limit movement within our homes and therefore prevent the potential spread of the new variant of Covid19.
Whilst we understand that this temporary suspension will be hard for many of you and your loved ones, we feel that taking these measures during the peak of the post-Christmas wave is the most effective way to limit the spread and ensure the safety of your loved ones.
During this time all our staff and residents will have access to the first dose of the vaccine and will be protected further with all staff being tested regularly, prior to the start of their shifts. Residents will be cared for in their rooms where able, with staff donning fresh PPE between visiting each resident. A new one-to-one activity schedule has been created to ensure all of our residents are kept stimulated with meaningful activities on a daily basis.
For our homes that have wings where residents walk with purpose, socially distanced group activities will take place in the lounge areas.
The booking system with Pod Visits will be temporarily replaced with a booking system for video calls, to allow for a fair and equal chance for everybody to make use of this facility. In the same way in which you booked your Pod Visits, please begin to book video calls with the homes’ administrative team.
As mentioned above this is a temporary change put in place purely for the safety and protection of your loved ones. We will update you prior to the 31st January once we have reviewed the measures in place and decided upon the necessary changes.
We hope that you will support our staff in this decision as their workload and emotional strain continues to increase as a direct result of the virus. Many local councils have advised Care providers to take further precautions if they feel it necessary, and we are confident that a short ‘circuit break’ like this will place us in a more favourable position to ride out the wave.
Update: 5th of January 2021
Update: 2nd National Lockdown
Following the announcement of the 4th January 2021, you are most likely aware that we have now re-entered into national lockdown. Whilst this lockdown brings us renewed restrictions in terms of visiting, we do feel that it is a positive step forward with the COVID19 vaccinations gradually becoming available to our Residents and staff, and further testing becoming available to our staff.
Visiting your loved one’s home
As per government guidance, Lateral Flow Visits have been temporarily suspended, this means that visits inside of the home are no longer available. Although the time period that this type of visiting was available was indeed short, we hope that the relatives of our Residents who are nursed in bed were able to take advantage of this type of visiting, and we hope that it will be made available again very soon. Visiting our Residents who are approaching end-of-life, is of course still available in any circumstance.
On the bright side, our Visiting Pods can still be used for visiting. They will only be closed if the home has an outbreak of COVID19. As we are facing national lockdown, government guidance does apply. This means that you are not able to visit with anyone who is not a member of your household, we ask that you strictly follow these guidelines to prevent the potential spread of the virus into the wider community. Whilst we are aware that these visits will now once again be in high demand, we ask that you respect fair chance and do not attempt to book up multiple visiting slots in any given week. Video calling is, as always, available. In order to offer all relatives and friends an equal chance with video calling, the home may have imposed a booking system for this also, please do check with your homes’ administrator before making a video call.
Staff Testing
As Lateral Flow Visits have been suspended, we are now able to redirect our resources to increase the testing of our staff. All of our care home staff will now undergo three tests per week; 1 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test and 2 Lateral Flow Tests (LFT). The staff members will be swabbed, prior to coming in to work, to rule out any risk of spreading COVID19. We are incredibly grateful for this as we feel that this is the highest level of protection that we can offer to our Residents whilst they are awaiting the vaccine.
Vaccinations
We have actively encouraged all of our staff to take part in the vaccination process. Many staff have already had their first dose of the vaccine. This week we have been informed that the GP surgeries across the board are preparing for mass roll-out of vaccinations for Residents, which is great news. If your loved one is unable to make decisions, and you feel that it is in their best interest to have one, please contact the home for the relevant consent forms that we need to be signed by their power of attorney for health and welfare.
We appreciate that the national lockdown is difficult for everyone for varying reasons and we know that the next few months won’t be easy. However, we strongly believe that if done correctly, this could be the last lockdown in the battle against COVID19.
We thank you once again for your continued patience, support and understanding.
Update: 15th December 2020
Lateral Flow Testing Visits
After gaining full understanding of the Lateral Flow Testing system, we are happy to share with you the protocol that we will be following in order to commence these visits in a smooth and manageable way. For the sake of clarity, we will be referring to the visits facilitated by the Lateral Flow Testing as ‘LFT Visits’ as opposed to ‘Pod Visits’. We have found that by doing ‘‘LFT Visits’’ and allocating a specific time and day for each Resident’s visit, we are able to maximise the opportunity for visits and structure the workflow for the extra staff member (per home) that we will be deploying to facilitate these visits.
Unfortunately, we have not received all the government resources required to begin these visits on the 18th December 2020; however, we are hoping that at least some of our homes will be ready to start ’LFT Visits’ by 24th December. It will, of course, depend on each individual home, and therefore they may be able to commence visits before the 24th. We will keep you informed.
Christmas Period
We would like to inform you that during the Christmas period (24th, 25th 26th December) and until 2nd January 2021, we will be prioritising the ‘LFT Visits’, if available, for the ‘Constant Visitors’ of our Residents who are nursed in bed, as they have been unable to visit their loved ones since September). Pod visits for all other relatives will still be available, and at the homes’ discretion, they will endeavour to offer more pod visits on these days. This is to allow a fair and equal chance for everyone to be visited by their loved ones during the festive period.
‘LFT Visits’
‘LFT Visits’ are only for the two identified ‘Constant Visitors’ per Resident. When your home is able to begin facilitating the visits, the next-of-kin will receive a letter stating the ‘Constant Visitors’ scheduled day and time for the visits to take place. This will be their permanent scheduled time on a weekly basis. If you receive the letter and you have not identified yourself as one of the ‘Constant Visitors’, please pass this on to them. The letter will also outline the necessary guidelines that they will need to follow when arriving for the visit.
We will also enclose a form, which will need to be filled out and sent back to us as soon as possible (no later than 1 day prior to your first scheduled visit). We require these details from them so that we can complete the form on their behalf before commencing the testing. The ‘Constant Visitors’ can already complete this form (download here: Lateral Flow Testing Registration Form) and send it either by post or email to the homes’ administrative team. We will be storing this information in a secure way, for the purpose of completing the forms. The information will not be accessible to anyone other than the staff member responsible for facilitating these visits.
Advice on choosing the ‘Constant Visitors’
We suggest that the two people identified should be from the same household, as if they are not, only one of them will be able to visit each week. If they are from the same household, they may visit together. We also recommend that if the ‘Constant Visitors’ are from the same household, one of them should be able to drive with access to a car. This is because, after the Lateral Flow Test, the visitors will need to wait for 30 minutes to receive the result, and we cannot guarantee that we have an indoor space available for them to wait. We are also aware that whilst testing is one way of reducing the risk of visiting a care home, it does not mean that there is no longer any risk. Therefore, we ask that if you are identified as one of the ‘constant visitors’, you begin to take extra precautions in your day to day activities to limit the risk of contracting the virus. If your occupation requires you to come into frequent contact with members of the public, we would ask you to carefully consider being a ‘constant visitor’. This will not only protect your loved one, but also the other Residents who live with us. ‘Pod Visits’ will still be available for those relatives and friends who are not identified as a ‘constant visitor’.
Update: 8th December 2020
Update: Care Home Visits, Rapid Testing & the Covid19 Vaccine
We cannot express how happy we are that rapid testing has finally been made available to the relatives and family members of our Residents. This long-awaited scheme means that our Residents are now able to meet their loved ones inside of their home, in a safe and comfortable way. You can find the most recent government guidance here.
Who is eligible for Lateral Flow Testing?
Guidance on the government states; ‘Visitor numbers should be limited to a maximum of 2 constant visitors wherever possible. This, for example, means the same two family members should visit each time to limit the number of different individuals coming into contact with the Residents and the overall number of visitors coming into the care home. The aim is to limit the consequent risk of disease transmission from multiple different routes. You can find this guidance here (2.1 Indoor visiting supported by testing).
We will be following this protocol closely, and so in the mean-time we ask that you contact your homes administrator and let them know who the 2 constant visitors will be, so that we have this on record. We are also aware that whilst testing is one way of reducing the risk of visiting a care home, it does not mean that there is no longer any risk. Therefore, we ask that if you are identified as one of the ‘constant visitors’, you begin to take extra precautions in your day to day activities to limit the risk of contracting the virus. If your occupation requires you to come into frequent contact with members of the public, we would ask you to carefully consider being a ‘constant visitor’. This will not only protect your loved one, but also the other Residents who live with us. Visiting Pod visits will still be available for those relatives and friends who are not identified as a ‘constant visitor’.
When will I be able to have the Lateral Flow Test?
We have been informed that we should expect to receive the Lateral Flow Tests for each of our homes by the 18th December, just in time for Christmas. We are currently working on our procedure and guidelines for these visits in line with government advice, and are hoping to publish these shortly so that relatives and friends, as well as our staff members are well-informed and prepared in advance.
How accurate is the Lateral Flow Test?
Although there has been very positive publicity about the Lateral Flow Testing and Care Home Visits, we are aware of differing views about the effectiveness of the test.
On the positive side, Oxford University and Public Health England have essentially stated that the tests ‘importantly catch all those with high viral loads, meaning they are effective in identifying the cases who are infectious and are most likely to transmit the disease’ (you can find the article here).
Adversely, we feel that we must share with you that we remain concerned about the reliability of these tests. Over the past week we have been reviewing reports and publicity regarding the accuracy of these tests. A number councils and medical professionals have instructed care homes not to use them, Greater Manchester being the most recent (more information here. The British Medical Journal has also released articles about the accuracy of these tests. They have stated; ‘Given the low sensitivity of the Innova lateral flow devices when used in the field, experts are questioning how they can be used to allow care home residents to have contact with relatives over Christmas safely’ you can find the full article here .
We felt the need to share this with you, so that you can make your own assessment on how reliable you feel the testing is. Whilst we have our concerns, we will whole-heatedly facilitate the scheme; but would request that you carefully consider the considerable information about the tests before you make a decision.
Whilst these have been the provisions, we have all been eagerly waiting for, they come at a time when we are facing considerable staffing constraints, mainly due to staff who are tested positive or been in close contact with someone who has tested positive having to self-isolate for 10 to 14 days. We will endeavour to ensure that this does not impact on the much-awaited visits for relatives. In these circumstances we want to ensure that our staff remain in good spirits especially with the festive season, whilst they strive to create a special experience for your loved ones. So please bear this in mind during your communications with them – they are doing their best.
Covid19 Vaccine
We are extremely relieved, that a successful Covid19 Vaccine has been found. As promised by the government, we expect to be the first to receive these, and some of our homes have already been contacted by their GP surgery. We will update the relatives of each home individually, as and when we receive the vaccines so that we are able to find out whether or not your loved one (if they are unable to make such decisions on their own) would like to have it. We sincerely hope that a majority of our Residents and Staff Members will opt to have the vaccine, as we feel this will provide our Residents with the highest protection against the virus.
We thank you in advance for your continued patience and support.
Last Update: 3rd December 2020
Lateral Flow Testing for Relatives Update:
We are currently awaiting advice from our local councils regarding this subject.
Update: 5th November 2020
Visiting Pod Update: 5th November 2020
As you may be aware, new care home guidance around visits has recently been published by the government. You can find the guidelines here.
At Cedar Care, we pride ourselves on always being one step ahead, in order to keep our Residents and the relatives safe and happy. Having created and constructed our pods in advance of the government guidance, we have been able to begin facilitating these visits prior to harsh winter season, and ultimately preventing any unnecessary inconveniences to your visits. Our next phase is to add comforting elements to the pods to make them more homely for our Residents and their visitors.
Due to national lockdown, we feel it important to re-emphasise our Visiting Pod Guidelines;
Visitor’s duties
You will still be required to fill out your details for track & trace (as per government guidelines). We will provide you with a QR code to scan with your mobile phone inside of the Pod. Please ensure that you have the NHS COVID-19 app downloaded. If you are having difficulties downloading the app, the homes’ administrative team can help you to do so. Failing this, they can provide you with a paper version of the track and trace form.
The Visiting Pods are fitted with a call bell system for you to call the allocated staff member responsible for the Pod(s) that day. Please use the call bell if you or your loved one requires anything during your visit.
New rules and guidelines
1) PPE (including facemasks, aprons, gloves, etc) are no longer required to be used during your visit.
2) A maximum number of 6 visitors are allowed to use the Pod. We do recommend 3 visitors at a time, for your own comfort (Pod size is restrictive). Due to national lockdown, only members from the same household are able to visit together. You must not visit with others who are not from your household, as the Visiting Pod is classed as an ‘indoor space’.
3) Visiting slots are still for the duration of 30 minutes, however, as we are able to offer more frequent visits due to the nature of the pods, you will be able to book multiple visits each week (within reason).
4) You will now be able to book visits from 2pm to 8pm each day of the week, Monday through to Sunday. Visiting slots start at 2pm and the last visit will take place at 7:15pm (ending at 7:45pm).
5) You are only able to book visiting slots with home administrator (9pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday).
6) You must book your visiting slot 1 week in advance of your visit, this is to allow us to organise staffing effectively.
7) Your visit may be supervised or unsupervised this is dependant on your loved ones’ individual risk assessment (please see below).
8) Any gifts or items you wish to give to your loved one must be handed over to the administrative team for disinfection and a 72-hour storage before being given to the Resident.
9) Smoking is strictly prohibited inside of the Pod (this includes the use of e-cigarettes).
10) You should not visit if you are feeling unwell or displaying symptoms of COVID19.
Risk assessments and visiting times
During your loved one’s first visit in the Visiting Pod, they will be accompanied by a member of staff. The staff member will complete an individual risk assessment for them to identify whether or not they need to be supervised during their visit, or if the Pos Visits are not suitable for them.
If your loved one does require a member of staff to be with them, it is highly likely that you will not be offered the visiting slots around dinner time. This is so that we are able to permanently allocate a carer to supervise, without disrupting their daily tasks.
We thank you for your continued support and patience, as always.
Update: 18th September 2020
In response to the well-publicized escalation of the second wave of COVID19, with infection rates rising rapidly in most parts of the country, we would like to provide an update into what we are currently doing as an organisation to ensure that your loved ones remain safe. With regards to the current status of Covid19 testing: despite the government’s promise for weekly testing, the availability of test kits has been patchy and we have experienced considerable delays in receiving test results. As a result, testing is neither reliable, nor accurate at this time. However, we would like to reassure you that we are taking every step possible to ensure that your loved ones continue to remain safe.
Over the last four weeks, we have only had 5 positive cases (for staff and residents combined) across the board at Cedar Care Homes. All of these cases were asymptomatic, and therefore confirming what you may have heard in the media regarding false-positive tests. Having said that, upon receiving a positive test for our staff or residents, we are seeking and following advice from PHE and the local authority on how to prevent potential outbreaks. Generally speaking, when a member of staff tests positive, they are required to self-isolate at home for 14 days. And, when a Resident test is positive, they are barrier nursed in their bedroom for 14 days. In either case, we are required to lockdown the home and pause visiting during this 14-day period.
As an organisation, we have permanently adapted our systems, measures and approach with the consideration that COVID19 will be an on-going battle for the foreseeable future. For a reminder of what we are doing in terms of infection control to limit the spread of the virus, please click here. We most certainly feel that we are better-equipped to face the second wave, and are confident in doing so.
As mentioned above, we are currently pausing visits if a Resident tests positive in the home. However, you will be pleased to know, that we are in the process of creating ‘Visiting Pods’ in all of our homes. This will enable us to facilitate family visits regardless of infection rates in the community and in the unlikely event of there being positive cases or outbreaks in any of our homes.
The ‘Visiting Pods’ will be:
- located inside of the home with external access for visitors, and internal access for Residents
- fitted floor-to-ceiling Perspex panels for optimal transparency
- fitted with a call bell feature to summon a carer if needed during your visit
- fitted with a sound transmitting system to allow conversation to flow easily
- will have a stringent disinfection protocol between visits
The construction of these pods is of the highest priority; each home has already had a site visit for measurements, and we are currently in the process of obtaining the necessary materials. Once we have received the materials, construction will start immediately. Whilst we are pouring all available resources into this system, we expect the pods to be available and open by the middle of October 2020. We will of course let you know as soon as we are able to commence visits using the pods.
We thank you for your continued support and patience, as always.
Last Update: 10th August 2020
**Please note that our guidelines have been reviewed and a minor change made**
Due to the release of government guidelines around relative visits we regret to inform you that we are now limiting the amount of relatives/friends to two people per visit. The need to ensure the safety of our residents whilst the infection rate continues to rise nationally is paramount. We hope that you understand and cooperate with the necessary changes we have had to make.
Update: 08th July 2020
We are pleased to inform you that we are now facilitating home visits for families to come to see their loved ones. You can book a visit with the administrators from Monday through to Friday (9 am – 5 pm). Please note that the following guidelines need to be followed stringently during your visit;
- An accessible outdoor area within the premises of the home has been identified for visits, a member of the admin staff will show you where the visit will take place.
- The area identified has external access so no visitors enter the home at any time during their visit.
- Tape will be used in each area to mark out a 2-meter distance between your loved ones and yourselves. This distance must be stringently followed and means that unfortunately, no physical contact between yourself and your loved one is allowed.
- Administrators are the only staff member able to arrange a time slot for your visit. No other members of staff are able to arrange these time slots for you.
- All visitors must be wearing a face mask or face cover at all times during their visit. We are not able to provide these for you, so please ensure you procure one before visiting.
- Each visit will be limited to a maximum of 30 minutes.
- All visits are weather-permitting. If cancelled due to weather, please discuss with the administrator to rearrange.
- Up to 2 family members or friends are allowed to visit at any one time.
- Having reviewed our visiting policy, we are happy to announce that we are able to allow more than 1 visit per week, however, this is subject to availability.
- At least 1 member of staff will be present during the visits to ensure that social distancing measures are followed.
- Unfortunately, toilet facilities are not available during your visit, we apologies for this.
- Any breach of social distancing measures will result in the family members being asked to leave.
- Any family members who turn up without a pre-arranged time slot will be asked to leave.
- So that we give an equal opportunity to all families, visits will be limited to a maximum of one per week per family for the time being. This will be reviewed again and you will be updated accordingly.
- Should you wish to bring any flowers or gifts, please hand these to the member of staff for disinfection before we give these to the residents.
We understand that the above guidelines are incredibly stringent, however, without them we feel that we are putting our vulnerable residents and staff members at risk. We are continuously checking the latest government guidance around care home visits and are updating our guidelines accordingly.
You can view the government guidance here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visiting-care-homes-during-coronavirus/update-on-policies-for-visiting-arrangements-in-care-homes.
We thank you for your continued patience and support during this time.
Last Update: 10th June 2020 We are writing to you with an update regarding visits to see your loved ones. You may be aware, that the government guidelines on shielding remain in place for those at high risk until the end of June. Although, with the governments lifting of restrictions, it would appear that infection and death rates are decreasing, we feel it would be prudent to maintain our residents isolated in our homes until we can be sure that the downward trend is consistent. As a result, we are aiming to be able to start facilitating visits in two weeks’ time (Monday 29th June 2020). We believe that this will give us enough time to implement further training and robust systems to ensure the highest level of infection control. In addition to the ‘new normal’ that was outlined in our previous letter to you, we would like to provide you with a summary of the further training and systems we are currently implementing; In order to increase staff awareness all of our staff in Cedar Care are: In order to prevent the virus from entering into the home we are; In order to prevent the spread of infection inside of the homes we are; And finally, continuous daily internal audits and weekly external audits are being carried out to ensure compliance at all times. We hope that the above information will help you to identify why we feel it would be counteractive to allow home visits at this stage. We feel that once the above systems are running and all necessary training has been completed, we will find ourselves in a far safer and risk-free environment to allow the home visits to take place. Once again, thank you for your co-operation during these unprecedented times. Last Update: 15th May 2020 Quarantine Success We would like to reassure you that despite the impression given by the media and government that care homes across the UK are not in control and struggling against the fight of COVID19, this is not the case for Cedar Care. We are very much in control of the virus and our homes are coping well with pressures inflicted by it. We would like to share with you company-wide analysis of how the first wave of COVID19 has affected Cedar Care. Sadly, as would be expected some of our residents succumbed to the virus. In the line graph below, we have displayed the number of recorded deaths across our 17 homes since the 26th March 2020 (national lockdown) until the 3rd May 2020. Please note that all the deaths recorded may not necessarily have been caused by COVID19. As you can see, we experienced a peak in the middle of April. Over the last three weeks we have seen a rapid decline and now find that we are in a stable position in all of our homes. As is clear above, the national percentage of deaths in care homes is currently increasing week by week. Whereas the incidents of deaths peaked in Cedar Care on the week commencing 6th April 2020. We currently have 14 suspected cases of COVID19 across our 17 homes. We do feel that our success in containing the virus was due to the quarantine system which was implemented in most of our homes around the time of the national lockdown. Changes in Quarantine In the majority of our homes the quarantine system is still in place and has been greatly beneficial in keeping our residents safe during this period. At present, we believe that it might be detrimental to lift the quarantine, as we cannot assume that there will not be another national wave of COVID19. We strongly believe that now is not the time to become complacent and relaxed because the lifting of social restrictions and the re-opening of certain types of businesses is likely to increase the prevalence of infection. We are currently consulting with our staff on the ‘new normal’ at Cedar Care; The ‘new normal’ is based on the widely accepted theory that this virus is unlikely to be controlled until a vaccine is developed. Our aim is to keep the homes in quarantine for this period of uncertainty as we just do not wish to risk the well-being of our Residents where it can be protected. However, we have taken into account that staff can become fatigued, especially towards the end of the quarantine where they are remaining in the home for seven days. In consultation with our staff we are proposing three options: 7 days in / 7 days out: staff will stay in the care home on their ‘days in’ and have been asked to self-isolate in their own homes as much as possible on their ‘days out’ 4 days in / 4 days out: staff will stay in the care home on their ‘days in’ and have been asked to self-isolate in their own homes as much as possible on their ‘days out’ 4 days in / 3 days out: staff will return to their own homes at the end of the shift and return the next day for four consecutive days. Although this will not provide the level of protection as the above options, it will greatly reduce the number of different people entering the home and therefore reduce the level of viral load on a daily basis. This will also reduce the risk of staff becoming infected on their days off. The staff in each if the homes will collectively choose which option they prefer. Additional Measures As far as possible staff will not be using any form of public transport to get to and from work. In cases where staff members do not have any means of transport, we are supporting them to avoid reliance upon public transport. When staff enter the home, uniform donning and doffing areas for staff will be set up outside of the home. Staff will follow strict procedures in donning and doffing of both uniforms and PPE. Most of these processes have been in place since the beginning of the quarantine at the end of March. PPE Provision Cedar Care Head Office has allocated the responsibility of continuously sourcing, distributing and storing PPE equipment to a designated member of staff. Because of this, we are glad to announce that we are not experiencing any type of shortage in PPE equipment. We currently have a company-wide supply of 6,500 disposable face masks, 160,000 aprons, and a large enough supply of gloves to last all of our homes for up to 4 months. As mentioned these reserves are being continuously replenished through various suppliers. Further to this, our Cedar Care training staff are visiting the homes (donning complete PPE) to provide on-site infection control refresher training over the next two weeks. This training is necessary to review and reiterate new stringent infection control measures and ensure compliance. COVID 19 Testing “So far, very few staff across Cedar Care have contracted COVID19, although with the lifting of restrictions, we may experience an increase. Fortunately, testing for our residents and front line staff has now become more accessible. You will be pleased to know that we have already ordered test kits for each resident and staff member at Cedar Care, and we are currently awaiting delivery. As per government guidance we will be testing all of our staff and resident regardless of whether they are symptomatic or not. This will enable us to establish if those who are not symptomatic may be carrying the virus. Our plan is to test residents as soon as they are received and staff will be tested when they arrive for their quarantine period. Thus completing all tests within the time span of one week. Following this we will test staff and residents again if and when they start showing symptoms. Upon Receiving Test Results As far as we are aware it may take a minimum of 4 days to receive results. When we receive the results, we will contact you to inform you. We would respectfully request that you do not call the home asking for results as this will inundate the already pressured staff. Thank you! We would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for all that you have done to aid us in our continuous battle against COVID19. We know that this situation is difficult for everyone, some more than others. So many of you have been so supportive to our hardworking staff and management teams by cooperating with us in our approach and systems which we have implemented. We acknowledge that our success in battling the first wave of the virus would not have been achievable without your support, patience, and cooperation. Thank you for believing in us. Together, we will defeat COVID19. Last Update: 13th May 2020 We are currently working on the system to allow you to visit your loved ones. Please check back for more information. Last Update: 7th May 2020 Dear friends and family of Cedar Care, As you may be aware, the Prime Minister is scheduled to give an announcement this coming Sunday (10th May 2020). We are all anticipating the changes to social distancing measures in his update. These new rules will need to be considered in order to adapt our strategy going forward to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents. Once the announcement has been made, we feel that we will be in a position to discuss openly with the homes and yourselves the best way forward. For the time being, we would like to share with you company-wide analysis of how COVID19 has affected Cedar Care. In the line graph below, we have displayed the amount of deaths across our 17 homes since the 26th March 2020 (national lockdown). Please note that the deaths recorded may not necessarily have been caused by COVID19. As you can see, we experienced a peak in the middle of April. Over the last two weeks we have seen a rapid decline and now find that we are in a stable position in all of our homes. As is clear above, the national percentage of deaths in care homes is currently increasing week by week. Whereas the incidents of deaths peaked in Cedar Care on the week commencing 6th April 2020. We currently have 17 suspected cases of COVID19 across our 17 homes. We do feel that our success in containing the virus was due to the quarantine system which was implemented in a majority of our homes around the time of the national lockdown. The quarantine system is still in place and has been greatly beneficial in the role of keeping our residents safe during this period. We are sure that you are aware of the national crisis in care homes consistently reported by the media and more recently by the Prime Minister. Therefore, at present, we believe that it might be detrimental to lift the quarantine, as we cannot assume that there will not be another wave of infection. We will, however, be informed by the new guidelines when they are announced. For the time being please be aware that our visiting restrictions still apply. Once we have looked at our homes individually, we will of course update you and welcome the opportunity to discuss the best way forward. Last Update: 20th April 2020 Thank you for the kind and supportive messages posted to our staff during this difficult time. We want you to know that they have been shared on our private quarantine Facebook group and your messages continue to encourage and inspire our teams; so please do keep posting these. We are extremely proud and humbled by the continuing commitment shown by our staff in caring for our Residents, being away from their families and at considerable risk to themselves. The words of appreciation and many gifts received from you are overwhelming and heart-warming as we all come together in what is possibly the most challenging period in our lifetime. Needless to say, with the extended ‘lockdown’ nationally, visiting restrictions to our homes will be maintained whilst we continue the staff quarantine in 13 of our 15 sites. We can inform you that although we have had some confirmed Covid19 cases in our homes, most of them remain unaffected. Where we have had confirmed cases, we have promptly sent detailed letters to the relevant families and friends and will continue to do so as the situation unfolds. In this respect, it really is the case that “no news is good news”. These are uncertain times; situations are constantly changing within our homes and government guidance and provisions are frequently updated. Recently, the media has taken up the cause of the difficulties faced by care homes and whilst this is reassuring and supportive, it is inevitable that many of you might worry about how we are coping. We would like you to know that we continue to ensure the safety and well-being of our residents and are able to overcome most of the difficulties pertaining to Covid19. Our staff remain well equipped to protect themselves as we have sufficient stocks of PPE which we regularly monitor. We are also sourcing and purchasing items, in addition to those provided by the government, to ensure that we do not fall short in case government sources falter. Over the last four weeks, we have experienced some staffing shortfalls due to staff becoming infected and needing to isolate and recover, but thanks to the quarantine system, the impact has been marginal, and we have managed to maintain safe staffing levels. We feel that the best channel to provide general updates in response to media coverage is through our social media outlets; you can follow us on Facebook (by searching for Cedar Care Homes) or on Instagram (by searching for @cedarcarehomes). If you prefer not to use social media please email us on info@cedarcarehomes.com stating that you would like to receive email updates. As mentioned, the social media updates will be general, specific information about the home where your loved one resides will be sent to you directly as necessary. Apart from this, if you would like to read more about everything we are doing to keep your loved ones safe and well, please see below. Last update: 20th April 2020 As always the safety and wellbeing of our Residents remains at the heart of everything we do. In responding to the threat of the coronavirus pandemic, we have put in place robust measures to minimize as much as we possibly can, its impact on our Residents and staff. Our plans are regularly reviewed and updated as circumstances change and as advised by the Public health authorities. Restriction of visitors Following the World Health Organisation declaration of the coronavirus to be a pandemic, the UK government moved to “Delay” protocol from the “Containment” protocol which previously existed. On 13th March, we took the decision to “Lock Down” each of our homes. Since then, all external visits have been restricted unless absolutely necessary. Additionally, any outdoor activities have been cancelled, along with any externally provided activities. Healthcare professionals may still visit the homes, but most consultations are currently conducted remotely using a range of suitable devices. Therefore, we continue to regularly share information and consult healthcare professional to manage health risks. Where visits are essential, visitors are required to follow strict infection control processes and provided with the necessary Personal Protective Equipment. Access is restricted only to specific areas that the visitor needs to enter. We are painfully aware that you have been unable to visit your loved ones for a number of weeks now. Although it would please us immensely to give you some indication about when this restriction can be lifted, we are not able to predict this, and we hope you understand that this sad situation prevails purely in the very best interests of our staff and residents, and in compliance with public authority advice. Staff ‘living in’ in the homes In an effort to further minimize exposure, on the week commencing 16th March 2020 we started an organization wide consultation with our managers and staff to discuss the possibility that our staff could move into the homes. This was a bold step, but we were overwhelmed by the numbers of staff who chose to quarantine themselves into the homes to keep our Residents safe. Subsequently, 13 out of our 15 homes went into full ‘Quarantine’ over a period of a week starting on the 20th March 2020, prior to the national lockdown. Each of the homes divided their staff into two teams that would alternatively quarantine themselves in the home for a maximum of 14 days: team 1 worked while team 2 isolated at home. After 14 days, team 2 replaced team 1 which returned home to rest and isolate. After the initial four weeks, the maximum quarantine period has reduced from 14 to 7 days. The quarantine system works on a voluntary basis. Those who are unwilling or unable to do so, work normal shifts in two of our homes that have not quarantined. Where staff have not quarantined in the homes and do not have their own means of transport we are providing transport in our own mini-buses so that they do not have to use public transport, thereby minimising the possibility that they may get infected whilst travelling to work. All staff complete a health screening questionnaire and are checked for body temperature, before entering into quarantine. Body temperatures are taken everyday whilst the staff are in quarantine. Infection Prevention Control Personal protective equipment is readily available and stocks are regularly monitored to ensure that they are replenished before they run out. Part of these heightened Infection Control Protocols also involves disinfection of surfaces that are regularly handled and high traffic areas are also frequently cleaned and disinfected. We are ensuring that required stock levels of disinfectants and detergents are available. The handling of laundry for any suspected or confirmed cases is required to be kept in a secured designated area for 72 hours before washing. Our staff are fully aware of Covid19 symptoms and remain vigilant to determine if our Residents or they are themselves showing symptoms. They are also fully aware of protocols to follow should there be symptoms. Covid19 monitoring, testing and response As a basic precaution, body temperature, oxygen saturation and pulse are monitored for all Residents on a daily basis to detect early signs. Staff are monitored for typical Covid-19 symptoms and if they present any symptoms, they immediately leave the premises. In these circumstances, however, we cannot guarantee that the virus will not enter our homes and that our Residents will remain unaffected. We have dealt with positive cases and outbreaks in some of our homes, and in doing so feel well prepared and confident that we can act swiftly to minimize the spread of the virus, where there are positive or suspected cases: If Residents are confirmed Covid19 positive or suspected to be infected: It is important to explain the current approach in suspecting Covid-19 cases. Previously at the first onset, Public Health England guidelines allowed the testing of a maximum of 5 Residents in the home. More recently Public Health guidelines now require all symptomatic residents in care homes to be tested. As you may be aware, it is not unusual for our Residents to become unwell: historically, they are known to show cold / flu like symptoms, diarrhoea, and other forms of infection or delirium. In response to the threat of Covid-19, we are now advised, by PHE, that any symptoms of illness should be suspected Covid-19 symptoms. As a result, the number of suspected cases in the home can appear to be alarmingly high. You will be assured to know that, in some of our homes, the subsequent tests for Covid-19 have returned negative results and the symptoms displayed have not been Covid-19 related. Furthermore, many of our residents who have displayed symptoms have recovered. In any case, this results in the highest protective measures being implemented in anticipation and prevention of the outbreak becoming more widespread. Nutrition Food and beverage supply remain plentiful; our Residents (and staff) continue to enjoy our usual planned menus and choices. We do not expect this to change but are well stocked with non-perishable foods in the unlikely case that there is an unexpected shortage. New admissions to the home In compliance with government guidelines and our own public responsibility to support the national effort in combating the pandemic, our homes remain open for new admissions to relieve the pressure on the NHS. Please be assured, however, that a rigorous consideration of the home’s status and the needs of the people being referred is conducted before any new admissions take place. All newly admitted Residents are isolated in their rooms and barrier nursed for a minimum of 14 days. For all admissions from hospital, residents are tested for Covi-19 at the hospital. Whilst we await results all newly admitted residents are isolated in their rooms for a minimum of 14 days. Keeping in touch and health updates We are currently providing communication via Skype, Face Time and WhatsApp for relatives and friends to keep in touch with loved ones. Nevertheless, we acknowledge the worry and uncertainty that you must feel – especially as you are not able to meet your loved ones. Understandably, you will want to ensure that your loved one is well and not affected. In our experiences to date, the landlines in the home can become relentlessly busy and we kindly request that some consideration is given to the frequency of calls. For this reason, please be reassured: Our staff We have not experienced staffing shortages so far, however, there has been a marginal impact as staff have become unwell and needing to isolate. The recent government provision of testing for care home staff will ease the pressure as staff will know for certain if they must isolate for 7 or 14 days and as importantly, will identify those who have already contracted the infection, recovered and have developed anti-bodies against further infection. Due to the ‘Quarantine’ scheduling, we anticipate that staff sickness will continue to have a marginal impact and that we can maintain safe staffing levels. We are extremely proud of the commitment our staff have shown by going into quarantine and are providing them with small comforts to express our gratitude: In addition to the above, the words of appreciation and many gifts received from you are overwhelming and heart-warming as we all come together in what is possibly the most challenging period in our lifetime. We have also set up a private Facebook page for quarantined staff to receive your messages and share their experiences and activities with our Residents. Please be aware that this group is strictly for the use of Cedar Care staff members only. Any attempt from external users to try to join this group will be declined. We have tried to describe to you as concisely and accurately as we are able, the current situation, but we hope you will appreciate that these are extremely uncertain circumstances and things can change very quickly. We feel that the best channel to provide general updates in response to media coverage is through our social media outlets; you can follow us on Facebook (by searching for Cedar Care Homes) or on Instagram (by searching for @cedarcarehomes). If you prefer not to use social media please email us on info@cedarcarehomes.com stating that you would like to receive email updates. If you have any further questions regarding our arrangements or efforts, please email us at info@cedarcarehomes.com. We would prefer to respond via email, but if you are unable to email please feel free to call out Covid-19 Operations Control Centre: 0117 946 7216 Ext: 3101 (Monday to Friday, 11.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.)
26th March 2020 Update to Home Status Regarding Visits As you know, we previously issued the alert that we would ask all relatives and friends of our residents to limit their visits to those that are absolutely necessary. Given the accelerating nature of the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus, we have introduced a quarantine system in 12 of our Homes. This system is intended to ensure that residents in these homes, along with the staff that provide the range of care services, are isolated from the open risk of infection by “locking-down” the home with the staff who have volunteered to assist us in implementing this system. This “lock-down” will be for an initial period of 14 days. During this time, other staff that work at the home have agreed to self-isolate at their own homes, in preparation to replace their colleagues on day 15. As a result, we feel it appropriate to close our Homes to all relatives and friends. We shall of course continue to allow access to visiting medical professionals. In addition, residents that are on the “End of Life” Pathway, will be permitted visits from close relatives. We apologise for having to take this action, but the safety of our residents and staff during these difficult times are of paramount importance and we hope that you understand our reasons for imposing these restrictions. 19th March 2020 Update to Home Status Regarding Visits As you know, we previously issued the alert that we would ask all relatives and friends of our residents to limit their visits to those that are absolutely necessary. Given the accelerating nature of the spread of the Covid-19 Coronavirus, we have introduced a quarantine system in 6 of our Homes. This system is intended to ensure that residents in these homes, along with the staff that provide the range of care services, are isolated from the open risk of infection by “locking-down” the home with the staff who have volunteered to assist us in implementing this system. This “lock-down” will be for an initial period of 14 days. During this time, other staff that work at the home have agreed to self-isolate at their own homes, in preparation to replace their colleagues on day 15. As a result, we feel it appropriate to close our Homes to all relatives and friends. We shall of course continue to allow access to visiting medical professionals. In addition, residents that are on the “End of Life” Pathway, will be permitted visits from close relatives. We apologise for having to take this action, but the safety of our residents and staff during these difficult times are of paramount importance and we hope that you understand our reasons for imposing these restrictions. 13th March 2020 As you will be aware, the World Health Organisation has now declared the coronavirus to be a pandemic and the UK government has moved to “Delay” protocol from the “Containment” protocol which previously existed. In response to this, you were informed that we had taken the decision to “Lock Down” each of our homes. It is important to stress that there are no diagnosed, nor suspected cases of the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) at any of the Homes and we have taken this decision as a protective measure. We are sure that you are fully aware that each of our residents is in the very highest risk category and the government, as of Wednesday, has conceded that the pandemic cannot be contained. Our decision is based on this announcement and the critical category into which our resident fall. This means that we are restricting visitors to visits that are absolutely necessary and we recommend that you do not visit. Where your visit is absolutely necessary, you will notice an increased level of infection control. You will be asked to wash your hands and go directly to your relative’s room and exit directly via the same route. Toilet facilities within your relative’s room, along with washing facilities should be used in favour of the public areas. Additionally, any outdoor activities have been cancelled, along with any externally provided activities. Medical professionals (i.e. GPs, CPN, CSN, social workers and other MDT members) will still be coming to the homes but will be subject to the same infection control procedures as other visitors. We will continue to regularly review and share resident information with all GP surgeries and continue to monitor the medication that they receive. We have and will continue to provide on-going support and up to date information to staff members about the development of Covid-19 and the protocols they must follow in relation to heightened Infection Control protocols. Currently this involves regular hand washing, avoid touching frequently touched surfaces (and to be conscious of the need to wash hands following such contact) and avoid touching eyes, mouth and nose. However, should a case be suspected (or worse, diagnosed), we will need to move to a full “Lock Down” whilst we identify the extent of the outbreak. Part of these heightened Infection Control Protocols involves disinfection of surfaces that are regularly handled and increased laundry of residents’ clothing. We are reviewing required stock levels of disinfectants and detergents to support this increased usage. We are currently making provision for the introduction of communication via Skype, Face Time and WhatsApp. Details of how this will be implemented will be posted on our website when the process has been defined. We have a public responsibility to continue to provide an effective social care service and make it available to assist the NHS to the best of our ability; your understanding of our situation will assist us in achieving our responsibility. For the same reason, we will continue to receive admissions throughout the period. On admission, there will be a 14 day isolation period of all new residents to validate their condition. We understand that this is a difficult time for everyone, and we have taken this short-term action to allow us time to make more compassionate provisions. If you have any questions email us through the website.
Regular updates to conditions within each Home will be displayed on our website and you can email us through the website should you want any specific information and are having difficulty contacting us by telephone.